Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher is broken is never going to be the best part of your day, particularly if you are also faced with the expense of phoning a repair person as well as staying home to meet them just to diagnose the fault.

Fortunately it’s often easy to pinpoint and even sort out many dishwasher faults by yourself without needing to call for dishwasher repair, particularly if you happen to have a multimeter.

You could realize you can sort out the issue quite easily yourself, especially if you are quite handy, and if you can’t at least you will be better placed to describe the fault when you eventually do call a repair man.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

Before you start searching for a new machine there are a number of possible problems you should be able to identify fairly easily.

Safety Warning: Never attempt repairs while your machine is plugged in.

Everyday Dishwasher Problems That Will Stop Your Dishwasher From Turning On

Before you begin checking your dishwasher for issues ensure that it hasn’t been accidentally unplugged, as well as that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.

This is also an opportune moment to see if the child lock isn’t on and try resetting your dishwasher.

You will probably require the user manual for this as machines are all different however the child lock tends to be fairly easy to engage without meaning to. Likewise, if the machine has lights yet will not run, the answer could be as simple as resetting the program.

When you have ruled out these issues it’s time for the real troubleshooting to begin.

1. Check the door latch or door latch switch.
2. Test the timer.
3. Examine the selector switch.
4. Examine the motor relay.
5. Examine the thermal fuse.
6. Check the drive motor.

To examine these parts you will have to have a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to measure the resistance plus test the electrical components are operating as they should.

Testing the Door Latch as well as the Door Latch Switch

The initial thing to test is the door latches and door latch switches. Your machine is designed not to run if these are broken for understandable reasons. There’s no way you would want start the dishwasher without meaning to with the door ajar.

A faulty switch will prevent your dishwasher from starting plus completing a cycle. You can check the switch with a multimeter. The switch will usually be located behind the front door panel or control panel.

Double check you have disconnected power to the machine before accessing the door panel plus testing for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.

If you discover the latches or switches are not working you will need a replacement door latch assembly.

Checking the Timer

If you have tested your door latch as well as door latch switch and discovered they are operating as they should the next component to test is the timer or electronic control.

This is the component that sends power to all the different electrical components the machine requires to run such as the motor, as well as the water inlet valve.

If your dishwasher is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it might have to be checked while plugged in, in which case you should call an engineer.

Testing the Selector Switch

The selector switch is the part of the machine that selects the cycle , it’s style and location will vary contingent on the make and model of your dishwasher. A broken selector switch or one that has got stuck might cause the machine not to run.

You should be able to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you might need to disconnect the machine in order to gain access to the control panel to check the contact points for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Testing the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another part that may result in your machine not running, so this may be the problem if you have checked the control panel and know that there should be power running to the main pump.

To test if this is the case you need to locate the motor as well as locate the relay that will usually be located next to it. This can then be removed and checked with a multimeter and you may have to replace it.

Checking the Thermal Fuse

Once you have tested the above issues yet still haven’t found the issue the next part to check is the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is there to stop the control board overheating.

If you will need to replace it in order to restore power to the control board.

Checking the Drive Motor

The final component you could test that might stop your dishwasher from operating is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that circulates the water to wash your dishes.

If you have tested the other parts but still aren’t getting anywhere this could be the cause of the problem particularly if your machine has previously been making a loud humming noise.

You should be able to gain access to the motor by removing the panel at the bottom of the machine. Test it by using a multimeter and replace if not working.

When to Contact a Repair person

If you don’t have a multimeter or are not confident in taking panels off your dishwasher and testing the electrical components then you will need to call a repair person.

If you are happy to perform the above troubleshooting then you might well be able to fix the fault without assistance. However if you are con confident it’s always better to call in the professionals.

Plus examine your insurance as well as your home cover as dishwasher repairs might be covered which means the costs might not be as high as you think.